Changing Perceptions in Recovery

It is one of the hardest and most misunderstood ideals in recovery. Changing our perceptions so that we are able to cope more effectively. Addiction is a disease of coping as much as anything else. A lot of addicts cope by using because it is the only way the precise pain will go away. The first rule is to change your perception of the pain. We start with the unfairness rule. Life isn't fair how many times have we heard and seen it yet we hold on to the idea that there is a fairness to life. There isn't because we can't define fairness. What is fair for a thief. 5 yrs in prison or having his hand cut off. Depending on your experience and belief system answers will vary. The trick is not to make the world fair but to make our lives fair. As we recover we develop new ideas of right and wrong and our job is not to force it on others but to live it ourselves. The second change is one of acceptance. We here all the time just accept it. Well what does it mean? Acceptance is often misunderstood to mean you will have to agree with or like something to accept it. That is false Acceptance means to tolerate things we don't agree with because in reality they are out of our control. The sooner we learn the ONLY thing we can change is ourselves and not the world our lives become easier. Gaining acceptance takes practice and a new way of looking at the world. The world is a big confusing place full of stuff we will never understand. So we have to learn to understand ourselves. Who are we in recovery? Most of us will not be liars, cheats, thieves and bad family members. Most of us will be productive happy members of society but it takes a lot of practice to gain acceptance. The next perception we change is the way we look at our past. A lot of us will continue to be haunted by a past that has no basis in our lives today. Face it under the influence we did a lot of things we have no reason to be proud of. We have to learn to apologize to others he have injured and forgive ourselves without using drugs as a excuse but rather as a learning tool. Alcohol ruined my relationship with my family and friends but ultimately it was me who chose to continue using. Taking responsibility for all things in our life helps us take the next step in recovery. Every action I do today will be based on my perceptions and needs. I need to stay sober so I go to meetings. I need to keep myself focused on my career so I write these blurbs in hopes they will help another person. Addiction is a disease and overcoming my narrow perceptions has helped me recover. So explore the world you can change which means come to terms with who you really are and it isn't the person you are when using.